The Botox Buzz

The use of Botox® Cosmetic as a neuromodulator to treat hyperfunctional lines helped spark a cosmetic revolution with regard to minimally invasive approaches to creating a youthful appearance. However, in the early years, while creating a more “youthful” look, practitioners were not always yielding a very “natural” look. Often patients were treated to the endpoint of having a totally immobile upper face while the medicine was working. Adding to this, patients were requesting this look and complaining if even a hint of muscle movement was evident at the site of injection. It was not difficult to identify the “Botox look” by the seemingly “frozen” look of the upper face.

After this, much attention was paid to avoiding injection at the lateral forehead and keeping all injection points along a relatively central corridor. This allowed for some animation at the lateral forehead, but often at the expense of an unnatural peaking of the eyebrows, again yielding a certain “Botox look.”

Now, the science and delivery of Botox® Cosmetic has become quite an art appreciated by cosmetic surgeons and patients alike. Patients understand the stigma of looking unnatural, or injected, or “done.” This phenomenon has become true even across surgeries, as many patients now prefer less invasive facelifting and volumizing techniques over more invasive approaches. Patients often know exactly what they want their Botox to do, and expect a precise pattern of results with an uncompromised natural look. I view this “customization” as part of the art of delivery and it has made for successful outcomes.

Art in medicine is a prominent part of our practice. An exactness, and precise attention to detail, combined with a steeped understanding of medicinal science, collectively allow for artful and predictable outcomes. Come visit us for a free Botox consultation.